DOE Seeks Proposals for Solar Incubator Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking project proposals from companies to invest up to $11 million in solar energy technology development and commercialization. The Photovoltaic (PV) Technology Incubator program aims to shorten the timeline for companies to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacture.

This will be the fourth installment of the successful PV Incubator program, which represents a significant partnering with U.S. industry to meet aggressive cost and installation goals and accelerate the commercialization of these technologies. The DOE funds the program through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which provides program management and technical expertise.

The program offers two tiers. Tier 1 projects will receive up to $1 million each through 12-month phased subcontracts and focus on accelerating the development of innovative PV module-related technologies to the prototype stage. The DOE anticipates selecting between four and six Tier 1 projects for awards. Tier 2 projects will receive up to $4 million each through 18-month phased subcontracts and focus on shortening the timeline for companies to transition innovative lab-scale and pre-commercial prototypes into pilot and eventually full-scale manufacture. The DOE anticipates selecting two or three Tier 2 projects for awards.

The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP) works to develop cost-competitive solar energy systems for the U.S. The Incubator program is funded through SETP’s Photovoltaics subprogram, which aims to accelerate R&D on technology with the highest potential to reach cost competitiveness by 2015, invest in technologies with the capability of reaching long-term carbon reduction goals, and ensure a sustainable domestic PV manufacturing base.